The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1887-08-05
rCon,lrinhted. 1ss1.l


My acquaintance with Henry w. Long
fellow, the distinguished man of letters,
commenced in 1910. l had just entered
Harvard University as student, and
Longfellow had few years before been
appointed professor of "belles-lettres."
My first interview with him charmed me.
He was in the prime of life, about thirty
three years of age. He was handsome,
graceful and genial, very different in
manners from some of the grim profess
ors with whom had come into contact
while passing my examinations. After
short review of my French, he entered
into conversation with me in the most
agreeable way, and in moment I felt
at ease with him.
He was at the time a widower, his
lovely wife having died some years be-
fore, so that having no household of his
own, he lived with an aged lady-Mrs.
Craigie-who was distant relative of
my own. The house she occupied was
the famous one distinguished as the
headquarters of General Washington
when he assumed command of the Amer
lean army. 1t had also been noted
mansion in colonial days. 1t was built
about 100 years before by the Vassall
family, one of the richest, proudest and
most exclusive of the old colonial aris-
tocracy. Here the family held state and
entertained grandly for many years I'M
til the outbreak of the revolution. The
Vassalls were high Tories, and clinging
rigidly to the fortunes of King George
III, they were swept out of house and
home by the despised "rebels," their
property confscated, and the grand
old mansion witnessed a new race
of people within its exclusive walls.
Not far remote in the village church
yard still stands tomb with a
verse and the sun beneath carved upon
it, emblematic of the name of the family
Vas. Sol in Latin. Here tradition has it
that some proud old Madam Vassall lies
buried, and that at her head and feet two
slaves were also inferred. Whether
buried alive or not, to show the power of
the dame, we are not informed. After
several owners succeeding the Vassalls,
the property came into the hands of Mr..
Andrew Craigie, wealthy merchant.
At his death his widow was defrauded of
large part of the personal estate by his
relatives; but being woman of rare
spirit and intelligence, she managed to
preserve good portion as well as a life
interest in the mansion itself. In order
to add to her income she let few rooms
to gentlemen, one of them being Mr..
Worcester, the author of the great die
tionary, and the other Mr.. Longfellow.
Mrs. Craigie had had a romantic his
tory herself sad disappointment in
love had preyed upon her mind, and rem
dered Der very eeptical in religious
matters.
lady, arrayed in black silk and high tur
ban, of aristocratic mien and looking as
if she might well be the custodian of the
naughty Vassalls. On her deathbed,
year or two afterward, Longfellow told
me that she sent for him. He found her
still keenly alert and her large black eyes
were, as he said, swapping like stars on
a wintry night" 81 have sent for you,
Mr. Longfellow," she said, ito tell you
that you must never think of marrying
again" "Why so, Mrs Craigie?" he
answered ooh, because you should
never know how ugly an old woman
looks when she is lying in bed" Mrs.
Craigie passed away, but Mr.. Longfellow
did not obey the injunction. His second
wife was Miss Appleton, of Boston,